tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post1113136148756360151..comments2024-01-08T09:12:42.920-05:00Comments on SF and Nonsense: DeconstructionEdward M. Lernerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620756142619513714noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-73662384399725123672010-08-24T12:47:49.615-04:002010-08-24T12:47:49.615-04:00Hi James,
Thanks for the comments and links. I pr...Hi James,<br /><br />Thanks for the comments and links. I prefer the attendance numbers in your references and hope they're correct. Still, as the SFWA article points out, there are subjective judgments implicit in the totals. <br /><br />Even stable turnout amid a growing population is worrisome. See US population growth here: <br /><br />http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=uspopulation&met=population&tdim=true&dl=en&hl=en&q=us+population <br /><br />Likewise worrisome is the (not shown in raw attendance data) graying of the audience. <br /><br />I think my larger point -- about the need, for the genre's sake, to make cons more broadly appealing -- remains correct. <br /><br />- EdEdward M. Lernerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15620756142619513714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-74842211464157214962010-08-24T12:19:17.561-04:002010-08-24T12:19:17.561-04:00I lamented in that inaugural post that every World...<i>I lamented in that inaugural post that every Worldcon seemed smaller than the last. Last year I was unable to attend Worldcon (in Montreal), and so was not in a position to comment whether the trend had continued.</i><br /><br />Have another list!<br /><br />http://www.smofinfo.com/LL/TheLongList.html<br /><br />Montreal got about 3,9121 people. I'm surprised it wasn't lower: not only was it outside the US (deterring US fans without passports), and not only are Canadians notoriously stingy but Quebec has the whole language issue, which generally isn't presented sympathetically abroad.<br /><br />On the other hand, there's a significant spike in strikingly attractive Canadians in Montreal. I felt like an orc visiting Loth Lorien the whole time I was there. <br /><br />Denver aside as a special case, attendance within the US looks fairly stable. <br /><br />This essay argues that worldcon attendance is currently stable:<br /><br />http://www.sfwa.org/2010/04/a-future-for-worldcon/#more-8272James Davis Nicollnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-23647438052786269132010-08-18T19:51:35.231-04:002010-08-18T19:51:35.231-04:00Exactly my point!!Exactly my point!!Robertnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-44175125223198337022010-08-17T20:57:55.215-04:002010-08-17T20:57:55.215-04:00Those experiences don't sound anything like an...Those experiences don't sound anything like an SF con.Edward M. Lernerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15620756142619513714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-39194493896541458992010-08-17T20:27:20.434-04:002010-08-17T20:27:20.434-04:00I have stopped going to most kinds of cons. In the...I have stopped going to most kinds of cons. In the past cons that I have gone to have either been too crazy, with no time to actually look at anything just running by booths to get to a panel or signing, or over commercialized; I understand that businesses need to advertise and believe that they should, however when I get to a booth that is just someone handing out cards for their $2500 software suite, I look around and wonder who they think their target demographic is. <br /><br />The best convention that I have been to was an invitation only event, spaced over the course of one week. The vendors were relaxed and waited for you to show interest, and the panels and classes were spaced so that there was enough time to wander the convention center before the next event you wanted to attend.<br /><br />What was the best convention that you have ever been to?Robertnoreply@blogger.com